Rock Hall will honor Michael Jackson with special events

June 20, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

By JOHN BENSON

Exactly one year after Michael Jackson’s unexpected death, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will honor the life, music and legacy of the two-time Rock Hall inductee with a special weekend of events taking place Friday through next Sunday at the downtown Cleveland venue located on the shores of Lake Erie.

Not only will the Rock Hall be showing off its collection of Michael Jackson artifacts on display, but fans will enjoy highlights from Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, dance demonstrations and a live performance by neo soul artist Angie Stone.

Speaking to the magic of Michael Jackson, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Curatorial Director Howard Kramer witnessed firsthand his amazing vocal and dance talents in 1981 when The Jackson 5 played Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena.

“It was one of the most amazing performances I had ever seen,” Kramer said. “It was just a knockout concert. And I saw him at both of the induction ceremonies he attended. Of course he didn’t perform at either one, but the one concert I saw was completely breathtaking. He had not reached that peak.”

Although Jackson was inducted into the Rock Hall at a 1997 ceremony in Cleveland, Kramer said the legend never visited the museum. Still, his presence remains prominent with Jackson items the Rock Hall has on display, including a 1971 Jackson 5 outfit, his famous 1983 “Thriller” music-video jacket, his 1987 “Bad” music-video outfit, a glove he wore on his 1992 “Dangerous” tour and one of his 1984 “Thriller” Grammy Awards.

Granted, Jackson did win an amazing eight Grammy Awards that year, but the fact that the Rock Hall has one in its possession is pretty impressive.

“And arguably the key one,” Kramer said. “There are a couple of pieces not in the exhibit by virtue of the fact we don’t have room for everything. Still, we have the best permanent collection of Michael Jackson artifacts anywhere in the world.”

Kramer said though the idea is to celebrate Jackson’s life and legacy, odds are it won’t become an annual event.

The Rock Hall did have two Bruce Springsteen weekend events in recent years; however, that was tied to the Hall’s “From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen” exhibit.

As for Jackson’s legacy, Kramer sets the bar high.

“I think he was potentially the ultimate showman in contemporary soul music and popular music,” Kramer said. “I can’t think of anybody who surpassed him in that ability. The records that he made were just unbelievably appealing. He knew what made a great record and he worked with some really great people, such as Quincy Jones. The two of them made some just tremendous records together.”

Finally, considering Jackson’s eccentric lifestyle, which for decades made tabloid headlines, is his legacy tarnished?

“I think that’s up to each individual fan,” Kramer said. “What’s left is the music, and you judge an artist by their art, not by their [behavior]. In Michael Jackson’s case, he left some incredible music behind. And the rest of it is fodder for the media really.”